Principles and Practices

for Nonprofit Excellence

Evaluation

Nonprofit organizations have proven to be highly effective at a wide variety of tasks that benefit society. An essential responsibility of every nonprofit organization is to assess the impact of its actions and to act upon this information. The public has a stake in nonprofit performance and is entitled to information regarding organizational results. Nonprofits should regularly measure their performance against a clear set of goals and objectives. They should share this information with their constituents and the public and use it to continually improve the quality of their processes, programs and activities.

Responsiveness

1) Nonprofits should commit to effective and efficient delivery of services and should always strive to improve processes, programs and results.

2) Nonprofits should have a regular system for investigating ways to improve their services, programs and internal processes in order to best serve their constituents.

3) Nonprofit programs should take into account and respond to the experience, needs and satisfaction of the constituents they serve.

4) Nonprofits should conduct program evaluations in ways that are culturally sensitive and appropriate for the community served.

Measurement

5) An organization’s measurement systems should be practical and useful to improve ongoing processes, activities and results.

6) An organization’s measurement systems should be used to evaluate organizational effectiveness and inform its operational plan.

7) Performance measures should be realistic and appropriate to the size and scope of the organization and its constituents.

8) Measurement should include information on satisfaction, activities, results and community input.

9) Performance measures should be specific and based on evidence gathered before, during and after program development and implementation.

10) Measurements may include both qualitative and quantitative data.

11) Measurements should include data on efficiency and effectiveness.

12) Nonprofit organizations should contract with other organizations or consultants to serve as external evaluators when appropriate and feasible.

End Uses

13) Evaluation information collected from individuals must be kept confidential unless they give consent for its release.

14) Nonprofit evaluation should be ongoing and should include input from a wide variety of constituents, service recipients and volunteers.

15) Nonprofits should be open to hearing from and having comprehensive discussions with members of the public who may question the organization’s effectiveness.

16) Nonprofits should use evaluation results to improve programs and activities and incorporate the results into future planning.

17) Nonprofits should communicate evaluation results to a broad range of constituents.

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Principles and Practices

Click on the links below to jump to the different sections of The Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence.

• Introduction
• The Principles
• Role in Society

• Governance

• Planning

• Transparency and Accountability

• Fundraising

• Financial Management

• Human Resources

• Civic Engagement and Public Policy

• Strategic Alliances
• Evaluation
• Advice for Users
• The Origins of the Principles and Practices

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Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence